Long awaited government-backed business mentoring scheme finally launches

Posted by Dan Martin in Business trends on Mon, 04/07/2011 - 00:05
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After months of speculation, the new government-backed network of small business mentors has been unveiled.

Launched on Monday morning, a new website at www.mentorsme.co.uk gives small business owners access to mentors provided by several organisations. The site is funded by the British Bankers Association (BBA).

The BBA says that 200 customer and former bank staff have so far signed up to provide mentoring but the government has promised that the scheme will eventually give entrepreneurs access to up to 40,000. Other organisations believed to be involved include the Institute of Directors, Prince's Trust, British Chambers of Commerce and Federation of Small Businesses.

The initiative is a replacement for the face-to-face services provided by Business Link which the government has closed. 

Angela Knight, BBA chief executive, said: "We recognise it is often a lonely place to be for a business when stepping out on their own for the first time or running their existing business day to day. That’s when a mentor can help.
 
"We hope that through the launch of this new initiative and portal, the help businesses can receive through mentoring generally will be much easier to access and better supported."
 
Mark Prisk MP, business and enterprise minister, added: "From my own experiences running a small business I know how valuable insight can be from people who have done it all before.
 
"Small business owners have repeatedly told us that the support they value most comes from other experienced business people. For the first time in the UK, there will be a single, cohesive network of mentoring provision.
 
"Small firms are lifeblood of our economy and we are determined to give them every opportunity to succeed and secure the long-term growth we need."
 
In the build-up to the launch, some entrepreneurs have questioned the value and commitment of volunteer mentors. In response, former Dragons' Den judge Doug Richard told BusinessZone.co.uk that they are a good thing.

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